Another comeback hopeful in Angels minor league camp

Just as they are doing with Chad Cordero, the Angels are taking another low risk chance on right-hander Ben Fritz in minor league camp.

Fritz was a suppemental first-round pick of the Athletics in 2002 -- a part of the famous Moneyball draft that also included Joe Blanton. He never quite made it with the A's, though, reaching Triple-A in 2006 and getting released by the Detroit Tigers in 2008. Fritz spent parts of two years kicking around independent leagues and was then out of baseball for two seasons.

Fritz, who turns 32 next month, is making a comeback. The Angels put him thorugh a workout in January and were stunned to see him hit 94 m.p.h. on the radar gun. It's rare for any pitcher, even a major leaguer in his prime, to be able to throw that hard in January.

Last week the Angels signed Fritz to a minor-league deal, and they'll give him a shot to pitch in some big league exhibition games, including this weekend, according to pitching coach Mike Butcher.

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